Music-leaf turner



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 (No Model.)

' G. NICHOLSON.

MUSIC LEAP TURNER.

No. 589,851. Patented Sept. 14,1897.

INVENTOR: @HQLSQN CHARLES N (99% WiTNESSES:

BY )E I W! ATTOR Y (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. NICHOLSON. MUSIO LEABTURNER.

No. 589,851. I Patented Sept. 14,1897.

lIllII/IIlIllIIII/lI/r lIIIIIlI/II/II/ w 4 J FHQHH WITNESSES: INVENTORY CHAFBLES NHCCHQLSQNQ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES NICHOLSON, F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONEIIALF TO FRANK II. DOUGLAS, OF NElVARK, NElV JERSEY.

MUSIC-LEAF TURNER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 589,851, dated September 14, 1897.

Application filed August 14, 1896. Serial No. 602,714. (No model.)

'10 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES NICHOLSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Music-Leaf Turners; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention has reference to a novel con strnction of music-leaf turner, and has for its object to provide a device of this class in which the leaf-turning mechanismis arranged in a compact box or casing, ready for carrying, the several sides of which box can be u nfolded and held in an open and rigid position to provide a music-rack for the book or sheet music, the leaves of which can then be operatively connected with the turning-arms operated by the mechanism of the device and properly turned at the will of the player.

A further object of this invention is to provide a simply-constructed device of this char acter which shall be inexpensive to make and shall be positive and reliable in its operation.

The invention therefore consists in the novel construction of music-leaf turner herein described, and also in the novel arrangements and combinations of parts to be here inafter fully set forth, and finally embodied in the clauses of the claim.

Vith these objects in view the nature and operation of my invention will be readily understood from the accompanying specification and drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device, illustrating the box or casing closed and provided with a handle for carrying the same. Fig. 2 is a front view of the device, representing the collapsible sides of the casingheld in their open relation to each other and clearly illustrating theleaf-turning mechanism. Fig. 3 is a back View, and Fig. A a top or plan view, of the device. Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on line 5 5 in Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section, taken on line 6 (3 in said Fig. 2, to more clearly illustrate the operating mechanism for actuating the leaf-tu rnin g arms; and Fig. 7 is a similar section taken on line 7 '7, also in said Fig. 2. Fig. 8 is a vertical section, taken on line 8 Sin Fig 2, illustrating certain detents or catch-plates for retainin g the spring-actuated leaf-turning arms in their normal and inoperative positions; and Fig. 9 is a similar view with the several parts represented in their operated positions to release one of a number of said sheet-turning arms at will. Fig. 10 is a sectional view of one of the clamping or holding plates at the end of each sheet-turning arm. Fig. 11 is a vertical section on line 11 11 in Fig. 7, looking in the direction of arrow co.

Similar letters of reference are employed in all of the above-described views to indicate like parts.

In said drawings, A represents the casing of the device, which when closed, as indicated in Fig. 1, forms a box provided on the outer side of the casing with a suitable handle a, of any desirable construction, to permit the carrying of the device, when the sides a, a a and a and the end pieces a and a are folded and held in their folded positions by means of suitable catches or looks I), as clearly illustrated.

When the several sides of the casing A are placed in their open relation to each other, the sides a, a and a being hinged together, as at a and a and the ends a and a being hinged to the side or base a as at a", then a rack is formed, as clearly represented in Fig. 2, which can be placed upon the ordinary rack of a piano in the manner of a book placed thereon. The said end pieces or sides a, a and a are held in their open and rigid relation to each other by a bar 0, which is pivotally arranged on a pin or screw 0 on the rear surface of the side a, and also by a bar 0 pivotally arranged on a pin or screw 0 on the front surface of the side a of the device, and while the free end 0 of the bar 0 is forced behind the casing D of the mechanism for actuating the leaf-turning arms said sides a, a and a form a comparatively rigid plate, against which the book or sheet-music can be supported. Said casing D consists, said detent, passing through a slot d in said essentially, of a base-plate (1, having the sides end piece (1. In operative engagement with d and (Z and is secured to the base a of the the free end of said finger 7; on the detent 7t casing A by means of screws or pins (Z which is the end Z of an arm I, which is connected 7o 5 pass through perforations in said base-plate with a suitable operating-lever], pivotallyat- (Z, as clearly indicated in Fig. (3. On said tached to the two end pieces cl and (Z of the base-plate (Z is a centrally-arranged post 6, easing D,as at 7 and Z",in the manner clearly which is capable of a partial rotative moveillustrated in Figs. 6, S, and 9 of the drawment' in a perforation in said baseplate, and ings. Between the free end of the arm 7' 75 10 f and f are alternately-arranged plates, said and the pivotal support 6 of said operating platesf being provided with outwardly-exlever l the arm Z is provided with an uptending portions f which are perforated and wardly-extending holding or look tooth are arranged over said post 0 to form the al- To cause the proper tension of the several ternate spaces, as will be clearly seen from springs j, I have secured to the post 0, in the 80 an inspection of said Fig. 5. Said plates f spacebetweentheportionf ofthelowestplate and f are provided with suitable holes, and f and the upper surface of the base-plate (I, a fitted upon the upper one of said plates is a ratchet-wheel on, having a lever m, whereby cover d, having a perforation, into which the post (1 can be partially turned, and in extends the end of said post 6, as shown. consequencethereofthe tension of thesprings 85 2o Said plate or cover (1 is also provided with j can be adjusted, and when adjusted held by holes corresponding in position to the holes the contact of a pivoted pawl 12., which onin the platesfand f to receive the tightengages with the teeth of said ratchet-wheel m, ing-screws g and g, the shanks of which are as clearly shown in Fig. 7. passed through the holes in the cover (1 and Secured to the free ends of the lcaf-turn- 9o 2 5 the plates f and f and have their screwing arm 6 are certain grasping or holding dethreaded ends screwed into the base-plate (Z, vices, as F, made from spring metal and bent as will be clearly understood. Said post 6 to form the two holding or grasping jaws i may be providedwith a perforation or hole and 1'', between which a leaf of the book or 6, into which I can place the end of a rod or sheet-music can be slipped and held by frie- 95 3o stem 6 and between the same and the rack tion. To secure amore positiveholding-conformed by the sides ct, a and a can be placed tact, each jaw 1'? and i" may be respectively the open book or sheet-m usic for the purpose provided with indentations i and i, substanof securely retaining the same in its open potially as illustrated in Fig. 10, and the pursition upon the rack. As will be seen from poses of which are evident. I00 said Fig. 2, I have secured to the two sides The operation of the device is substana and a, at or near the ends thereof, a pair tially as follows: hen the several leaves of of brackets h, each of which has secured the book or sheet-music have been arranged thereto, on a pin or screw h, a spring-clamp in and are held between the jaws of the hold- 1 7L3, between which and the portions 7L2 of the ing devices 2' on the arms 1', then said arms I05 1 4o brackets h the covers of the book or sheet are in their normally-inoperative positions, music can be slipped and are securely held (indicated in Figs. 6 and 8,) being held in in such clamped positions. this position by the outermost arm t' coming In the spaces between the several portions in contact with the holding-tooth 7& on the f of the plates f and secured to the post 6, detent 7t". \Vhen it is desired to operate the no whichis preferablymade rectangularin crossfirst leaf-turning arm 1', the player lightly section, as shown, I have arranged certain touches the operatinglever 7, bringing the spiral springs j, having their free endsj suitsame to the position indicated in said Fig. 9. ably connected with the looped ends 2' of cer- Immediately the end Z of the arm Z operates tain leaf-turning arms i,one spring for each the finger 75, connected with the detent 7a, 115 5o arm, as will be clearly understood from an whereby its holding-tooth 7.; is withdrawn inspection of the several figures of the drawfrom its holding engagementwith the first ings. arm 1 which by the action of the spring j is As will be seen from Figs. 8 and 9, there is caused to flyoverand assume the position indipivotally arranged on a pin (Z on one side of eatedin dotted outlinein Fig. 2. At the same 120 the end piece (1 of the casing D a detent 7.;, time while the lever Z is being lowered and havingan upwardly-inclinednosingk, which the arm Z raised the hereinabove-mentioned terminatesinaholding-toothk Said toothed tooth or stop I is raised above the edge of end portion of this detent is normally forced the end piece (2' of the casing D, and thereby above the upper edge of the end piece (1' by causes the retention of the remaining leaf- 12 5 the action of a spring 7& suitably secured to turning arms '1' in their normal]y-inoperative said end piece (1, and exerts a constant prespositions, as will be clearly understood. As sure against the under surface of said detent soon as the player removes the hand from 7a to force its toothed end upwardly, as has the lever Zthe spring 7;" causes the return of been stated. At the back of said detent is the detent 7t to its initial position (indicated 1 0 a finger 7a, which extends at a right angle, or in said Fig. 8) and the withdrawal of the tooth approximately so, from the body portion of or stop 7 from in front of the second arm 1',

which then is immediately brought into holding engagement with the tooth where it is held until released by again pressing the lever Z downward in the manner just described. Each succeeding arm '1', of which there may be any desirable number and actuating mechanism therefor, may be operated in a like manner for the succeeding leaves of the book or sheet-music.

From the above description it will be seen that I have produced a music-leaf turner which is simple and operative in its construction, and has this great advantage that the rack portion thereof can be folded and can be closed to form a box or casing in which the operating mechanism is inclosed, the easing being provided with any suitable form of handle for carrying the device.

I am aware that many changes may be made in the details of construction. Hence I do not limit my present invention to the exact arrangements and combinations of the parts herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A music-leaf turner, consisting, essentially, of a casing having hinged sides a, a a and a and hinged end pieces, said sides being constructed to form a box when folded and a music-rack when opened, a bar 0 pivotally secured on the front surface of the side a and a leaf-turning mechanism arranged in said casing, s id bar being adapted to be turned against the several sides of the casing to hold them in their open and rigid relation to each other, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. A music-leaf turner, consisting essentially, of a casing having hinged sides a, a a and a and hinged end pieces, said sides being constructed to form a box when folded and a music-rack when opened, means connected with said sides to hold them in opened and rigid relation to each other, a leaf-turning mechanism in said casing, and a pair of brackets h, having portions 7L and springclamps 7L3 connected with and secured to said brackets by pins h, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. A music-leaf turner, consisting essentially, of a casing A, havinghinged sides a, a (L3 and a and hinged end pieces, said sides being adapted to form a box when folded and a music-rack when opened, a bar c pivotally secured on the front surface of the side a and a bar 0 pivotally secured on the rear of the side a, said bars being adapted to be turned against said several sides to hold them in opened and rigid relation to each other, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. A music-leaf turner, consisting essentially, of a casing A, having hinged sides amfi, a and a and hinged end pieces, said sides being adapted to form a box when folded and a 1n usic-rack when opened, a bar 0 pivotally secured on the front surface of the side a and a bar 0 pivot-ally secured on the rear of the side a, said bars being adapted to be turned against said several sides to hold them in open and rigid relation to each other, and a leaf-turning mechanism arranged in said casing, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In a music-leaf turner, a leaf-turning mechanism, comprising a base-plate (Z provided with an end piece cZ having a slot 6Z7, a post on said base-plate, and a series of springactuated leaf-turning arms on said post, a detent 7tpivoted on one side of said end piece (Z having a holdingtooth 79, adapted to hold said arms in their inoperative positions, and a finger 70* extending laterally from the end of said detent and projecting through said slot (Z and a pivoted lever on the other side of said end piece cZ having an arm Z adapted to engage with said finger Zr, and a stop or tooth Z on said arm Z, adapted to be brought between the first two leaf-turning arms, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

(3. In a music-leaf turner, a leaf-turning mechanism, comprising a base-plate d, a post thereon, having an end piece cZ provided with a slot at or near one end thereof, a series of volute or spiral springs having their inner ends secured to said post, a series of leaf turning arms 2' having looped ends 1" in which said springs are arranged and said springs having their outer ends secured to said looped ends 2', a plate or end piece d on said baseplate, a detent Z; having a holding-tooth 7; adapted to hold said arms in their inoperative positions, a finger 7; on said detent, extending laterally through said slot in said piece d, and a pivoted lever having an arm Z adapted to engage with said finger 7t, and a stop or tooth Z on said arm Z, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

7 In a music-leaf turner, a casing D, comprising a base-plate d, a post thereon, plates f and f, said plates f being perforated and arranged over said post, a series of volute or spiral springs arranged in the spaces formed between said plates f, having their inner ends secured to said post, a series of leaf turning arms thaving looped ends t" in which said springs are arranged, and said springs having their outer ends secured to said looped ends Z, a plate or end piece d on said baseplate, having a slot (Z a detent 7.; having a holding-tooth 70 adapted to hold said arms in their inoperative positions, a finger k on said detent, extending laterally through said slot (Z and a pivoted lever having an arm Z adapted to engage with said finger it on the detent, and a stop or tooth Z 011 said arm Z, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

8. In a music-leaf turner, a casing D, comprising a base-plate d, a hollow post thereon, a vertical rod or stem removably arranged in said post, plates fand f, said plates f being perforated and arranged over said post, a series of volute or spiral springs arranged in the spaces formed between said plates f, having their inner ends secured to said post, a series of leaf-turning arms i having looped ends '0" in which said springs are arranged and said springs having their outer ends secured to said looped ends ii, a plate or end piece (1 on said base-plate, having a slot (F, a detent 7; having a holding-tooth 7J adapted to hold said arms in their inoperative p0sitions, a finger k on said detent, extending laterally through said slot (1 and a pivoted lever having an arm Z adapted to engage with said linger 7; on the detent, and a stop or tooth Z on said arnl l, si'ibstantially as and [or the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the invention set 15 forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 12th day of August, 1896.

I CHARLES NICHOLSON. Witnesses:

D. S. PLUMB, FREDK. O, FRAENTZEL. 

